January 6, 2016 (Wednesday)
This evening at Bethel Baptist Church, Ingleside, we will continue our study of the Gospel of Mark. Last Wednesday we looked at Mark 7:24-30. This evening we will study Mark 7:31-8:13.
In last week’s study, we saw Jesus leave the area around the Sea of Galilee and travel 40 miles to Syrian Phoenicia, where he planned to rest. But he was found by a Syrophoenician woman whose daughter was demon-possessed. She was insistent, and Jesus, observing her faith, healed her daughter. Jesus made it clear that the gospel is for all people–Jews and Gentiles.
In verse 31, we learn that Jesus left that area and returned to the region of the Decapolis near the Sea of Galilee. There they brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly speak. Jesus healed the man so that he could hear and speak plainly. The crowds observed, “He has done everything well.”
After that, in chapter 8, Mark tells us about Jesus feeding 4,000 people. As in the feeding of 5,000, Jesus took a few loaves and fishes and fed a multitude.
“The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.’ Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side” (Mark 8:11-14 NIV).
There is none so blind as he who will not see. The Pharisees knew of the miracles of Jesus, yet clamored for some kind of spectacular event, possibly involving the heavens? Even as the people proclaimed, “He has done everything well,” the Pharisees doubted. Faith comes from within. Evidently they lacked the capacity to believe in the miracle who stood before them, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and Savior of the world.
Even after Jesus later rose from the dead, some who saw him doubted. We must not expect the world to agree with us about Jesus; we must simply keep testifying: “He does everything well.”